HariesDesign.com - Don’t use digital zoom. It will make your images look bad. Find a way to switch it off on your camera. If you need to, do the upsizing in post processing.
Avoid full automatic shooting mode (aka “Green Mode”). Program mode will do the same for you, but you’ll be able to shift exposure and aperture to your liking.
Try manual mode. If your camera allows you to do so, give manual mode a
try, especially if you are shooting in a situation where the light
conditions don’t change much. The camera’s built-in light meter is a
very precise tool that will help you get the settings right once and
then continue using them in order to get consistent results throughout
a whole photo shoot.
If your camera allows you to set up
different image profiles for shooting, make use of them. For example
have one profile that boosts contrast and colour saturation, one that
is neutral and one that has less contrast and saturation. This way when
it’s a bright sunny day with harsh contrasts, you can use the low
contrast profile and reduce the chance of blowing out areas of your
image. Or if the light is very flat and dull, you can use the high
contrast profile and this way make the picture pop a little more.